SECURITY officials expect the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. today to be peaceful and smooth at the National Museum in Manila, which will be secured by around 18,000 security personnel.
“I think it’s going to be peaceful,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a phone interview yesterday, noting they have not monitored an “actual threat” to the ceremony.
“That is what we are expecting, that the inauguration will be smooth and peaceful because of the security measures that will be in place,” said PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo.
Fajardo said the inauguration site and surrounding areas will be locked down at around 10 a.m. before the expected arrival of President-elect BMM (Bongbong Marcos). We are not going to allow anyone to enter the area (at 10 a.m.).”
Fajardo said people who wish to witness the oathtaking that cannot be accommodated in the inauguration area can proceed to the viewing area at the Intramuros Golf Club as early as 5 a.m.
Police earlier said major roads around the National Museum will be temporarily closed to vehicles.
Año said the only concern they are addressing are protest actions that will be staged by some groups. The leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said it will stage a protest rally at Liwasang Bonifacio, about 1.2 kms kilometers from the inauguration site.
“We have not monitored other threats (other than the protest actions) but, of course, we are prepared for any, if there will be a new threat that will emerge,” Año said.
Año said phone signals will not be shut down in Manila, unlike in several instances in the past when phone signals were shut down or jammed as part of security precautions.
“No need to shut down… We have not monitored any actual threat, it will be OA (overacting) if we do that,” said Año.
“That actually depends on the situation but for now, there is no plan to shut down… That will depend on the development tomorrow. Actually, that’s the call of the PSG (Presidential Security Group),” he said.
Año said his instruction to the PNP is to exercise maximum tolerance and restraint in dealing with protesters.
Año urged policemen to let the protesters air their sentiments. “We should not be doing extra efforts to stop them (protesters), just let them (express their grievances),” he said.
“But if they provoke and attempt to cause violence, we should apply reasonable force only and we should respect the rights of others, those who are not involved (in violence). Let’s focus on the unruly ones,” Año said.
“If they attempt to break out and go to the venue, we are going to block them with force enough to subdue them,” said Año. “They will be dispersed,” he later added.
Fajardo said the protesters will be requested to limit their program at the Liwasang Bonifacio and other freedom parks.
“We are going to ask them not to march (to the National Museum) because first of all, they have no permit… If they insist, that’s when we are going to have a problem because we really have to disperse them,” said Fajardo.
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes assured the public that their protests will be confined at Liwasang Bonifacio, adding they are not planning to march to the National Museum.
The PNP earlier designated Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda, and Plaza Dilao as areas where protesters may hold their protests. Yesterday, the PNP added Plaza Moriones to the list.
“Our announcement was Liwasang Bonifacio, that is our announcement,” said Reyes, adding they have no plans to stage protests in Plaza Miranda and other areas.
“I think the greater concern is not the protesters but what the police will do. If they disallow us or deny us use of Liwasang Bonifacio, where will we go? That should be asked to the PNP because it’s them who have bad faith here,” said Reyes, adding the protesters they will muster would be “just enough to fit Lisawang Bonifacio.”
During the Laging Handa public briefing, PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon urged the protesters to stay at freedom parks “but the moment they will step out of the area, we will extend corresponding police response.”
In seeking the cooperation of the protesters, De Leon said: “We all know that the world will be watching us and we would like to showcase how orderly and how disciplined Filipinos are in our country.”
De Leon said policemen are ready to secure the inauguration of Marcos, rain or shine.
“Rain or shine, your PNP will be present to secure this historic event. We are prepared and have already started deploying personnel to strategic locations, including border control points and the inauguration site,” he said.
PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. urged the protesters to remain calm and cooperate with the police.
“We only want the inauguration to be held successfully, safe and orderly, with no untoward incident for the benefit of all,” said Danao.
The PNP also issued some safety tips for people attending the inauguration — to refrain from bringing valuable items like jewelry and large amounts of cash, avoid bringing of vehicles, avoid leaving their belongings to strangers, come early at the inauguration site to allow ample time for security checks, report “suspicious-looking people” to authorities, and avoid receiving any parcel or package that might be left in their custody.
“We ask for the full cooperation of the guests and other attendees in the strict security check that we will make upon their arrival at the venue. We also appeal to them to come at least two hours before the scheduled time of the inauguration ceremony, as the security check may take a few minutes,” said Danao.
Fajardo said at least 18,000 policemen, soldiers, Coast Guard personnel and force multipliers will be deployed to secure the inauguration. Fajardo said 9,000 of these personnel, including 7,000 policemen, will be deployed around the National Museum.
The rest will handle security at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), guard protests, and man checkpoints at Metro Manila entry points to prevent the entry of unscrupulous individuals.
Police will screen VIPs at the PICC before they are transported to the National Museum by buses. The PNP said at least 1,200 VIPs are set to attend the inauguration but said the number might reach 1,500.
Fajardo said 7,000 policemen will guard the National Museum. “It (security personnel around the museum) will reach 9,000 if we are going to include personnel of the AFP and other allied forces,” said Fajardo.
